Tesselaarsdal Wines - proudly South African

Thursday, 26 January, 2017

Tesselaarsdal Wines Pty Ltd.

Tesselaarsdal was founded in 2015 by long-standing Hamilton Russell Vineyards employee, Berene Sauls. This wine is named after the historic Overberg farming hamlet of Tesselaarsdal, not far from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge wine appellation, in which Berene was born – a descendant of the freed slaves who were bequeathed the land by former East India Company settler, Johannes Tesselaar in 1810.

Extreme care is taken to ensure this small-production, classically styled Pinot noir expresses the personality of the cool, maritime, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge from un-irrigated vines and its elevated, stony, clay and iron-rich soils.

Grape purchases are secured with Babylon Vineyards and Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge (unirrigated vineyards) until Tesselaarsdal’s vineyards is secured and ready for harvest.

The 2015 Pinot noir (only 1202 bottles produced), released in February 2016, was an instant success receiving extremely positive feedback. Master of Wine Greg Sherwood referred to it as the “next SA Pinot noir icon” on social media with Christian Eedes, from Wine Magazine, scoring it 91/100 and Jamie Goode reviewing and scoring the Pinot noir 94/100. Furthermore it was nominated 5 Stars in the John Platter Wine Guide.

Tesselaarsdal Wines Pty Ltd. has been nominated and shortlisted for a South African Premier Business Award 2016. The South African Premier Business Awards is an annual event hosted by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in partnership with Proudly South African and Brand South Africa. The awards recognise business excellence and honours enterprises that promote the spirit of success and innovation as well as job creation, good business ethics and quality. These awards bring together all single sectored awards, among others technology, manufacturing and women in business.

Tesselaarsdal Pinot noir 2015 is currently listed in several high end South African restaurants like La Colombe, Aubergine, Greenhouse, Open Door to name a few and exported to three international markets, namely UK, USA and The Netherlands.

Wine description

A particularly bright, tight and pure Pinot noir with marked elegance. Clean and lifted wild red fruit and sour cherry aromas introduce a long, gentle palate with a salty minerality. This is a graceful and age-worthy wine with an almost crystalline purity.

Future plans

To secure property in Tesselaarsdal the village about 24km North East from the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Hermanus and have Pinot noir plantings there.

Only 1294 bottles of the 2016 vintage has been made and is due for release in February 2017.